Oscars to introduce popular film category and shortened ceremony

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This is especially interesting as the Marvel Cinematic Universe has never won an Oscar - embarrassingly, despite Suicide Squad grabbing a Best Makeup and Hairstyling gong previous year - but that could very well change with this new award category. "The Board of Governors took this charge seriously", the message stated.

The telecast has also limited its run time to three hours or less, revealing that select categories will be presented during commercial breaks. Those winning moments will then be edited down for air later in the broadcast.

By creating a new category for "outstanding achievement in popular film", the Academy is very likely attempting to ensure that the broadcast will feature movies - and actors, and directors - that many people will be not just familiar with, but passionate about.

The next Oscars air Sunday, February 24, 2019. It also clocked it at almost four hours, making it the longest show in over a decade. Bailey and Hudson said eligibility requirements will be determined at a later date.

Oscar viewership is often tied to the box-office muscle of the big nominees. The dirty (not so) secret of the Academy Awards is that they've never really been a benchmark of excellence to begin with. And some Oscar-watchers wonder why there are no categories for stunt coordination or casting.

The Academy is definitely looking to make some changes, and appeal to a wider audience.

The next Oscars broadcast will be as announced, February 24, 2019. None of the Best Picture winners over the last five years broke $100 million in the box office, according to Box Office Mojo. In order to accomplish this, not all of the categories will be presented live. And what criteria will be used to determine whether a film qualifies as "popular?" However, a Best Picture win for a blockbuster is not unheard of.

Essentially, with these changes, the Oscars are looking to become more like the MTV Movie Awards, and that's a damn shame.

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